Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale
“AMAZING! Utterly, fabulously, and uniquely delicious. When I opened the first bottle I was so shocked at the flavor that I stood completely still and just closed my eyes and smiled.”
Michelle Tucker – Sacramento, CA
Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale
Very Good; worth seeking out
Celebrator Beer News Blind Tasting Panel – Dec. 2005 / Jan. 2006
This fine holiday brew was awarded Gold Medals in 1997 and 1998 by the World Beer Championships, and was named their 1998 World Champion Winter Ale.
From the first sip of Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale, your senses will be aroused with the vision of a glowing fire, warming the hearth and home, as gently drifting snow flakes silently blanket the trees outside. Each lingering sip will gently warm your soul with thoughts of family and friends, gathering around the table for the feast. Luscious, creamy, smooth, and warming, this medium bodied ale is brewed with Caramel and crystal malts to give it just a hint of sweetness, then paired with our private blend of holiday spice. Winter Solstice Ale is great alone or as an accompaniment to any meal, and it has been known to liven and spice up nearly any social event. This coveted and much sought-after brew is released in November, just in time for the holidays, and by the first of the New Year will be only a fond memory.
As with all of our products, Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is never sterile filtered nor heat pasteurized, and should be stored in refrigeration. However, to fully enjoy its rich and complex flavor, it should be served between 40° and 45°F.
6.9 % Alcohol by Volume
6 IBU
56 Comments on “Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale”
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February 13th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
This brew is amazing, the best beer I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to try some of your other beers!
January 30th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Greeetings from Pittsburgh PA. Just wanted to ley you guys know that you have managed to make the greatest beer of all time. Winter Solstice must be what they serve in heaven.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:23 am
[...] disappoint me at all. I do not feel bad for joining the preaching choir to tell you all that the Winter Solstice Ale from Anderson Valley Brewing co. is a great beer. I like it because it’s smooth, but still [...]
January 19th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I’m picking up a subtle, but rich butterscotch taste. Does anyone else get this?
Excellent brew.
Don’t ever stop making beer or I will hurt you.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
OMG! This brew is Excellent! I an concur with everyone on this comment stream that this is the BEST beer I’ve ever tasted. Not sure how AVBC can top this one. It’s are hard beer to find in Los Angeles but its almost everywhere in my hometown Napa Valley. Thanks AVBC, you’ve done it again!
December 23rd, 2009 at 6:43 pm
[...] and rich, but not too heavy. The flavor remidns me of one of the best beers I had last Winter, Anderson Valley Winter Solstice. Malt, malt, malt! On the Hooker Brewing site, they describe the beer quite accurately: Brewed to [...]
December 15th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Hi, As a homebrewer, I would love to know how you do it. Tastes like super fresh columbus and centennial wihtout the bitterness. This ale, along with your IPA, has a full bodied, wonderfully sweet but not too sweet flavor. Perfect aroma, head, color, mouthfeel, etc. This is definitely one of the best ales I have ever had that is commercially available. My father-in-law found it for me after I sent him on a wild-goose chase for Pliny on the east coast. He researched and found this and your IPA in NY at a specialty beer store. Thank you, you have a new fan. I owe my father-in-law a big thank you.
December 14th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Thank God for Whole Foods. Every one of the 4 years I have been in San Diego I have been able to keep my Winter tradition (which involves multiple six-packs of Winter Solstice Ale) in tact! Had it while I lived in Humboldt on tap and it was even better. This beer is easily in my top 5 beers OF ALL TIME!!!!!!! Thanx Guys. Can’t wait to make it back up and play some disc golf there!
December 11th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
What an excellent way to raise a glass to a job well done! Our team went out on Tuesday after work to celebrate a successful project. I took a total guess by choosing the Winter Solstice off the menu at D’s Six Pax & Dogz (Monroeville, PA). WOW…did I hit it lucky – great stuff!
December 10th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Found you on tap here in Charlottesville at BeerRun (www.beerrun.com). One of the best beers I’ve had in a long time. Bought a 6 pack and perhaps the 1st time a beer as been equally good poured from a bottle as a tap. Big fan. Thanks
Cheers!
December 5th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
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December 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
While staying at Hotel Modera this week on business, your Winter Solstice was on tap in their bar. What a beer! Being from Wisconsin and having plenty of micro-brews to choose from everyday, this is one of the finest ever. It is a beautiful beer; the color is a amazing and the flavor rivals anything coming out at this time of the year…even my favorite from Samuel Smith. You folks have done a GREAT job with this. Keep up the great work and I am eagerly awating my next trip to Portland.
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 am
[...] day three, and already we’ve been spoiled with what might be our favorite holiday gift this year: this buttery, romantic winter seasonal we can only describe as liquid toffee. Swishes of caramel malts swirl around your nose; then, the [...]
November 24th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
As always one of the best seasonals.Hard to find great West coast brews here in Kansas but,someone had some of this and as expected a magnificent winter “warmer”. Outstanding!!!!
October 20th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Winter Solstice has no peer, this is the best beer I’ve ever consumed. Can’t wait till it’s in my fridge…………
December 10th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Just wanted to say that I tried your Winter Solstice for the first time It friggin rocked! I tried several winter brews this year and this was by far the best. Thanks!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I am an experienced, although uncertified, beer judge, and it takes a lot for a beer to impress me. The first word that came to mind when I tasted this beer was phenomenal. A complex, and interesting beer.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I picked up a six of your winter seasonal beer today. What a great beer. Perfect for winter. As a homebrewer you learn that there are companies out there that sell off name and there are companies that produce a quality product. I would put your beers up against any other in the world.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
We just bought a six pack of the winter brew and it is by far the best one we’ve ever had. And there’s alot of damn good brews out there.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Your Winter Solstice Ale this year is so damn good. Thank you
December 10th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Summer was yesterday
gone is the fruit
Winter Solstice fills my nose
fills my mouth
fills my thoughts
Kiss my lips
sample the brew
through me
I’ll give you my caramel promise
you’ll search no more
December 10th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Thank you for another masterpiece! All of us @ McCormick Beverage Company tip our collective beer cap to Brit et al. Truly one of the best seasonal beers ever! Cheers, All of us @ McCormick Beverage
December 10th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
What can I say…I don’t generally write fan letters…but, I think the Winter Solstice may be my all-time favorite beer. It’s just good! It tastes so good, nicely balanced, not too heavy, not too light, with a nice kick to boot. I like the Hop-Ottin’ IPA too. But I look forward to checking with the local distributor every late fall to get a case or two of the Winter Solstice. Keep up the excellent work!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I am having my first taste of this wonderful beer and it is one of the best I have ever tasted! I love this time of year because these winter beers have a hearty flavor and aroma and remind me of and compliment all of the best foods of the season. This is a 2001 and I can’t wait to get my hands on the 2002 batch and share it with friends and family! Happy Holidays!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I don’t know about any of the other seasonal brews because I refuse to drink anything other than your Winter Solstice. You should make it year-round…it’s always winter somewhere!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
[Editorial Note: The comment below is a transcript of a phone message we received over the Thanksgiving weekend, 2002. Is it genuine? Only the caller knows for sure. Click on the mystery man's silhouette to hear a .WAV of the message, and judge for yourself.]
Hello, my name is Pierce Brosnan, and I am calling from Malibu, California. I just wanted to thank you and your brewery for a wonderful beer that we’re having here, which is the first time most of us have had any of the Anderson Valley beers, and we’re having the Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale. Anyway, we wanted to thank you for that and we’re anticipating a big first week at the box office for our newest James Bond film. But thank you for your fantastic beers. Thank you.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I went college in Chico, home of Sierra Nevada and Celebration Ale. I can add that there is no finer seasonal than your Winter Solstice. None! You could travel to Samuel Smith brewery and beyond, Anderson Valley is the best.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I agree with all these other people that your Winter Solstice is the best seasonal brew around. There are many liquor stores around town that carry your boont amber and the oatmeal stout, but I only found one that had the Winter Solstice. I bought a total of 9 sixers in two weeks and the store ran out. the foolio there said he had more on order but i have yet to see it. Tears actully well up in my eyes when I think about how great your Winter Solstice is and the fact that i can’t get any right now. Ah well….fortunately, the Trader joe’s down the street carries Boont Amber so it’s all good. At least for another week or two. Thank you guys for making a beer I can believe in.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I have had many winter seasonals, but none have matched the flavor, aroma and all out terrific taste of your Winter Solstice. Just make sure that you continue to brew this fine X-Mas ale. Many thanks! Sincerely, Jason
December 10th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
It’s February 16th, 2003, and I’m currently sipping on a rather smooth, well-aged batch of 2002 Solstice I picked up at my local grocery store last week. This beer ages quite well, which is to be expected of a beer whose yeast is not autolyzed. The alcohol is definitely higher than 6.9%; I’d say a touch over 8% by now. The carbonation has settled down, releasing a deep, heavy caramel overtone. I daresay it bears a closer resemblance to some young Belgian abbey ales I’ve had than most California microbrews I buy. And this is a good thing. Well done, Anderson Valley. I wish this malty goodness was available all year.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
WOW…I’ve just had the best beer of my life. I thought the Boont Amber was good, but your Winter Solstice Ale is even better – how do you do it?!?
December 10th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Winter Solstice is amazing! Excellent flavor with a hint of vanilla. Only a west coast beer could be this good. A toast to your Brewmaster!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I enjoy Seasonal Ale, from August on, and find the taste of your Winter Solstice Brew to be the best I have sampled. I had my wife taste it and now have to buy a case at a time. Thank you for a good drink.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
i tried the Winter brew two days ago, and i cant get it out of my mind! its so great! its so good! this winter beer is awsome! you should really have this beer NOT only on the winter time. good job, Anderson people!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Last night, I tried the Winter Solstice brew for the first time. Great stuff!!! Loved everything about it including the mountain bear/elk packaging, the flavor, and the lovely hue of the beer. I am a sucker for an amber/reddish colored beer. But, yes, the flavor was the kicker. I felt like I was standing inside a decorated holiday barn out in the wild west listening to the soothing tunes of John Denver as I was quaffing my third Winter Solstice of the night. Pure delight!! Dreamy. I’ll buy more today. Count on it.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
It’s only February and I have already had the best beer I’ll probably get all year. I added 493 to the list last year.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Dedicated Brewers- I enjoyed my last 2003 Winter Solstice for the year a week ago. You all make a big deal about how it is nice to drink in cold weather. I am writing to say that the temperature here in Laveen while I was enjoying that final delicious 2003 winter Solstice ale was 113 degrees. Things went just fine. Your beer is just as good in Sonora desert heat as it is in cold foggy Anderson Valley winters. Thank you and I look forward to 2004
December 10th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
If you haven’t tried the Winter solstice, good! That means there will be more for me. It is one of the most delicious beers in the world. I tried to buy more but everyone in my area buy’s up the years supply quickly. This beer and the Amber Ale are two of my favorite beers. Remember, don’t buy any, leave it all for me.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Ive tried nearly all the beers on the market today. And i would have to say that anderson valley WINTER SOLSTICE is by far the best seasonal beer ever created.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I tried your Winter Solstice at the Calistoga Car Show the weekend of Sept. 25, 2004. What a fabulous brew!!! Its the smoothest I’ve ever had. I can’t get over the multiple flavors that fill your senses. Look forward to visiting the brewery and enjoying another pint or two, three,….
December 10th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Just wanted to say, this is my all-time favorite beer. Mmmm with a lemon slice… i look forward to this beer every season.
I have a house in mendocino, about 20 miles north of Ft. Bragg, and my friends and I are all very loyal to Anderson Valley brews. Thanks for giving us a reason to celebrate :) good beer goes hand in hand with good friends.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
AMAZING! Utterly, fabulously, and uniquely delicious. I love winter beer, and when I saw yours in the store, I picked up a 6 pack. When I got it home and opened the first bottle I was so shocked at the flavor that I stood completely still and just closed my eyes and smiled. Toasty, toffee, chocolate, vanilla, spices, somehow so smooth and slightly sweet. This is absolutely the best beer I have ever tasted. My hat is off to you. Thank you for brewing something so special, so lovely, so delicious in the mouth and warming to the heart. Now I need to buy as many more 6 packs as I can afford!!!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Winter Solstice is the most delicious ale I’ve tasted in many years. Flavorful, mouthwateringly tasty, it is pure nectar of the gods. Please consider offering this one all the year around. I’ve been in Dave’s Bar in San Francisco (3rd & Market) almost every day since it arrived. Nearly everyone who comes in orders it. Anyone who who is trying Solstice for the first time- you can literally see their eyes widen, first with disbelief, then with delight, as they realize the quality ale they have just chosen to drink. My friend Paul came into Dave’s to meet me one day last week and I told him, as he was about to order a Boont Amber Ale (both of us love this one) to try a sample of my Winter Solstice. The effect was instantaneous, the smile infectious, and the order changed, of course. Keep suprising us- Anderson Valley has a loyal following- and Oscar Wilde was right- work is the curse of the drinking classes!! Regards, Sean McGeever (from Ireland)
December 10th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Absolutely wonderful! Sitting here Christmas Night and even my sister, not a huge drinker, is floored. Is there a hint of chicory or cinnamon? I love this beer!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I have have tried many winter beers in my short history but this one has surpassed all that have crossed my palite. A tremendous beer with a spicy aroma and fantastic fruity taste. I’m already thinking of next years batch. Thank you Anderson Valley Brewery.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I have just had your winter solstice for the first time and I am amazed at the multiple flavors rushing through my mouth. I am tasting a hint of vanilla, is that just me? I think that is an amazing addition…in most seasonal brews you taste lots of nutmeg and cinnamon…but your beer is THE BEST ROUNDED SEASONAL BEER I HAVE EVER HAD
December 10th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Rock on!!!, I can’t get enough of this nectar of the gods. My local joint, Ths Sharp Edge, always gets it on tap and bottled. I enjoy as much as possible when ever I’m there. I’ve had several case in the fridge since the holidays and I’m down to my last 2 bottles. I hope to score another case this weekend. Keep up the great work and I look forward to next years batch.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
As a huge lover of Ales, I’m always on the search for the prefect one, and today I have found it! The Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is THE BEST I have yet to find! I just wish I had found it sooner because I have been searching like crazy for more, and the wait for next winter is going to tough!!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Another fine beer from a killer brewery. I’ve had this little gem in my fridge for a few months, just cracked it open and poured myself some liquid happiness. Wonderfully warming, really nice smells, and superb taste. Well done, guys.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
winter soulstice is the greatest stuff in a bottle. every time my wife drinks one she get extra excited. winter soulstice thanks for making my nights so much more enjoyable.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
This is by far my favorite winter beer so far. It was so smooth and drinkable, I’ve even had non beer drinkers try it and they were totally impressed with the flavor. GREAT JOB!!!! I think I need to head to the store and stock up to make it through the holiday season. Keep up the good work guys/gals. Love your beer!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
As an Oregonian, I have a natural distaste for saying anything nice about California. Disneyland. Disneyland is nice. However I must make a second exception for Anderson Valley Brewing. I was mightly impressed by the Summer Soltice Cerveza I drank at the Oregon Brewer’s Fest this year, easily the best beer I sampled in very good company.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Gentlemen, just had my first sip of 2005s Winter Solstice and can it be true? It’s even better than last years! Maybe the anticipation of the new brew has hightened the senses but I’m tasting, chocolate and a hint of cream soda. Without a doubt your finest creation yet. I move back to England next year. Can you ship it that far?
December 10th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
This is my favorite beer this season! I’m into trying new beers right now. And i needed a 2nd on the winter solstice. Might even have to buy me a case. If i can find it!!!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Am so glad to be back in the united states after 12 monthes in the middle east.Took my wife to be, to BOONVILLE for a ride this after noon and stopped in and had your winter beer and my eyes just lit up when I tasted this great beer.My lady is not a beer drinker and she loved it when I asked her to take a sip of mine,she bought one also!!!We brought home a sixpack WOW I love it as I am not far from you all. THanks
December 10th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I can honestly say this is the BEST beer I have ever tasted, and I’ve tasted many! I’m a fiend for great beer, and Winter Solstice is exceptional. I can’t wait for next winter to come around so I can enjoy it again.. and again.. and again!